DISHWASHER WITH IMPROVED DRYING PERFORMANCE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a dishwasher developed in order to improve the drying performance obtained after washing.

[0002] It is well-known that discharging the water vapour remained in the machine after the washing cycle is completed or condensing it by means of a special device at a different point, improves the performance concerning drying effectiveness in dishwashers. Until now, various ways of improving drying performance in dishwashers have been tried. The systems utilized provide the improvement of drying performance either by natural convection method or by means of a fan.

[0003] In natural convection method, water vapour formed in the machine body after washing, is intended to be discharged by means of a vent opened on the machine body. All studies made on this method are directed towards increasing the efficiency of the natural convection by modifying the geometric shape or location of the said vent.

[0004] The development of the systems providing coercive (forced) ventilation has been in the direction of inhaling vapour from inside by means of a fan. Embodiments of systems with fan, for instance those disclosed in the patent applications EP 93102395, EP 92710019 or EP 96100564 solve the problem of water vapour inhalation by different geometrical or functional methods, however all of them incorporate a fan for sucking the vapour or moist air. The only and primary fluid used in fan-systems is air.

[0005] In other words, a fan realizes the removal of vapour and air by inhalation, by means of a rotational movement created by its fan motor.

[0006] A dishwasher is disclosed in GB 124 5570 in which a vertical tubular member is provided in the machine to circulate the water collected in the sump during the washing process through the walls of the dishwasher.

[0007] The underlying problem of the invention is to improve the drying performance of dishwashers.

[0008] This problem is solved by a dishwasher according to claim 1.

[0009] Preferably the dishwasher according to the claims 1 to 19 is further characterised in that the water contained in the dishwasher is circulated by means of a pump during a washing cycle of the said machine and that the pressure difference is created in association with the speed of the pumping water.

[0010] The dishwasher with improved drying performance of the invention realized to achieve this object is shown schematically in the attached drawings, wherein :

Figure 1, is a schematic view of a dishwasher wherein the jet pump air intake is placed at one of the side walls of the wash tub;

Figure 2, is a schematic view of the jet pump application;

Figure 3, is a schematic view of the jet pump, type-ejector 1;

Figure 4, is a schematic view of the jet pump, type-ejector 2;

Figure 5, is a schematic view of the jet pump, type-venturi.

[0011] The reference numerals of the components in the drawings are as follows;

1.

Jet pump

1a.

Jet nozzle

2.

Inlet hose

3.

Outlet hose

4.

O-ring

5.

Multi-way valve

6.

Circulation pump

7.

Pump reservoir

8.

Clamp

9.

Air intake

D.

Jet pump air intake direction

E.

Jet pump water flow direction

[0012] Improvement of drying performance is provided by circulating the water in the machine through a jet pump preferably by the aid of one of the pumps in the machine (circulation and discharge pumps). Water inside the machine accelerates due to the kinetic energy acquired during the said circulation and reduces the pressure locally to a value below the atmospheric pressure. Due to this reduced pressure value, the vapour and air is removed from the wash tub (Figure 2). The jet pump (1) is placed so that the air intake (9), will be opened to one of the dishwasher wash tub surfaces. During the operations for improving the drying performance, preferably the circulating pump or the discharge pump may be used, or it may be driven by a third pump (one or more pumps).

[0013] When the circulating pump is used, water circulation is stopped after the last rinsing step in the wash cycle of the dish washer. Then the multiway valve (5) is activated. Under normal operational conditions, the outflow of water being the primary fluid in the valve, is towards the outlet (A). This outlet represents the water circulation system of the dishwasher. The multiway valve activated by a signal, opens the outlet (B) and closes the outlet (A). The circulating pump (6) is driven and as the flow is towards the B outlet, the primary fluid is directed towards the pump (1). Thus, the machine starts to operate for drying (Figure 2).

[0014] When the discharge pump is used, the A outlet of the said multiway valve represents the outlet hose.

[0015] Water contained in the pump reservoir (7) is sent to the jet pump (1) through the inlet hose (2) over the multiway valve (5), by means of the pump/ motor group (6). Here, water accelerates as its kinetic energy increases. This acceleration in the flow of water creates a pressure in the jet pump (1) which is lower than the pressure within the body. Water vapour and hot air in the body move towards the jet pump (1) due to the difference between the pressures, by means of the air intake (9) one side of which is connected to the jet pump (1) and the other, to a vent on the body. The mixed air composed of vapour and air, represent the secondary fluid and is sucked from the body due to the reduced pressure created by the primary fluid, which is water. The water and air mixture passing through the jet pump (1) then returns to the pump reservoir (7) by the outlet hose (3).

[0016] During the drying phase, the jet pump (1) can be operated by using all of the water remained after the last rinsing, or by using the remaining water after the evacuation of some of the water in the wash tub, as the primary fluid, or by using the water taken in after the evacuation of all of the last rinsing water, as primary fluid.

[0017] The reservoir required for the primary fluid, namely water that is circulated over the jet pump (1), may be the pump reservoir (7) or a separate water container placed in the machine. Water used in one wash cycle before the last rinsing cycle and kept in the said water container can also be used to actuate the jet pump (1).

[0018] The air intake (9) that provides the suction of vapour and hot air in the dishwasher body by the help of the jet pump (1) and that provides the connection on the body, can be placed at different points (on one of the side walls of the wash tub, on its rear wall, on its upper surface, on its bottom surface or on the door of the dish washer) on the washing tub of the dishwasher. In Figure 1, a dish washer with the air intake (9) of the jet pump placed on one of the side walls of the wash tub is shown schematically.

[0019] In the invention where ejector type-2 is used as the jet pump (Figure 4), any one of the known venturi or ejector type jet pumps may also be used (Figures 3 and 5).

Claims

1. A dishwasher with improved drying performance, comprising:

a dishwasher tub;

a pump reservoir for collecting the washing water;

a jet pump having an air intake in communication with the dishwasher tub for sucking a water vapour and air mixture from the dishwasher tub due to a pressure difference created between the dishwasher tub and the jet pump;
characterised by

an outlet hose connecting the jet pump and the pump reservoir directly to one another for enabling the washing water to return directly to the pump reservoir.

2. A dishwasher according to claim 1 wherein said jet pump includes a venturi.

3. A dishwasher according to claim 1 wherein the jet pump includes an ejector.

4. A dishwasher according to one of the claims 1 to 3 wherein the pump for circulating the washing water is a circulation pump.

5. A dishwasher according to one of the claims 1 to 3 wherein the pump for circulating the washing water is a discharge pump.

6. A dishwasher according to one of the claims 1 to 3 wherein the pump for circulating the washing water is an additional pump outside the machine.

7. A dishwasher according to claim 1 to 6 wherein the jet pump air intake is on one of the side walls of the dishwasher tub.

8. A dishwasher according to claim 1 to 6 wherein the jet pump air intake is located on one of surfaces of the dishwasher tub.

9. A dishwasher according to claims 1 to 8 wherein the water circulated over the jet pump is all of the remaining water following the last rinsing cycle.

10. A dishwasher according to claims 1 to 8 wherein the water circulated over the jet pump is the remaining water in the wash tub after some of the water in the dishwasher is evacuated.

11. A dishwasher according to claims 1 to 8 wherein the water circulated over the jet pump is fresh water taken in from outside after the last rinsing water is completely evacuated.

12. A dishwasher according to claims 1 to 8 wherein the water circulated over the jet pump is the water used in one of the wash cycles before the last rinsing cycle and kept in a separate container.

13. A dishwasher according to one of the preceding claims wherein the jet pump is located horizontally.

Ansprüche

1. Geschirrspülmaschine mit verbesserter Trocknungsleistung, die umfasst:

einen Geschirrspülmaschinentrog;

einen Pumpenvorratsbehälter zum Sammeln des Waschwassers;

eine Strahlpumpe mit einem Lufteinlass, der mit dem Geschirrspülmaschinentrog in Verbindung steht, um aus dem Geschirrspülmaschinentrog anhand einer Druckdifferenz, die zwischen dem Geschirrspülmaschinentrog und der Strahlpumpe erzeugt wird, ein Gemisch aus Wasserdampf und Luft anzusaugen,
gekennzeichnet durch

einen Auslassschlauch, der die Strahlpumpe und den Pumpenvorratsbehälter direkt miteinander verbindet, damit das Waschwasser direkt zum Pumpenvorratsbehälter zurückgeleitet werden kann.

2. Geschirrspülmaschine nach Anspruch 1, bei der die Strahlpumpe ein Venturi-Rohr enthält.

3. Geschirrspülmaschine nach Anspruch 1, bei der die Strahlpumpe einen Ejektor enthält.

4. Geschirrspülmaschine nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, bei der die Pumpe, die das Waschwasser zirkulieren lässt, eine Zirkulationspumpe ist.

5. Geschirrspülmaschine nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, bei der die Pumpe, die das Waschwasser zirkulieren lässt, eine Förderpumpe ist.

6. Geschirrspülmaschine nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, bei der die Pumpe, die das Waschwasser zirkulieren lässt, eine zusätzliche Pumpe außerhalb der Maschine ist.

7. Geschirrspülmaschine nach den Ansprüchen 1 bis 6, bei der sich der Strahlpumpen-Lufteinlass an einer der Seitenwände des Geschirrspülmaschinentrogs befindet.

8. Geschirrspülmaschine nach den Ansprüchen 1 bis 6, bei der sich der Strahlpumpen-Lufteinlass an einer der Oberflächen des Geschirrspülmaschinentrogs befindet.

9. Geschirrspülmaschine nach den Ansprüchen 1 bis 8, bei der das über die Strahlpumpe zirkulierende Wasser das gesamte verbleibende Wasser nach dem letzten Spülzyklus ist.

10. Geschirrspülmaschine nach den Ansprüchen 1 bis 8, bei der das über die Strahlpumpe zirkulierende Wasser das verbleibende Wasser in dem Waschtrog ist, nachdem ein Teil des in der Geschirrspülmaschine vorhandenen Wassers entleert worden ist.

11. Geschirrspülmaschine nach den Ansprüchen 1 bis 8, bei der das über die Strahlpumpe zirkulierende Wasser Frischwasser ist, das von außen eingeleitet wird, nachdem das letzte Spülwasser vollständig entleert worden ist.

12. Geschirrspülmaschine nach den Ansprüchen 1 bis 8, bei der das über die Strahlpumpe zirkulierende Wasser das Wasser ist, das in einem der Waschzyklen vor dem letzten Spülzyklus verwendet und in einem getrennten Behälter aufbewahrt worden ist.

13. Geschirrspülmaschine nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, bei der die Strahlpumpe horizontal angeordnet ist.

Revendications

1. Une machine à laver la vaisselle à performances de séchage améliorées, du type comprenant :

une cuve de lavage de vaisselle ;

un réservoir à pompe pour recueillir l'eau de lavage ;

une pompe à jet, comportant une entrée d'air en communication avec la cuve de la machine à laver la vaisselle en vue d'aspirer un mélange de vapeur d'eau et d'air provenant de la cuve de la machine à laver la vaisselle, en raison d'une différence de pression créée entre la cuve de la machine à laver la vaisselle et la pompe à jet,
caractérisée par

un manchon de sortie réunissant directement l'une à l'autre la pompe à jet et le réservoir à pompe, en vue de permettre à l'eau de lavage de retourner directement au réservoir à pompe.

2. Une machine à laver la vaisselle selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle ladite pompe à jet comporte un venturi.

3. Une machine à laver la vaisselle selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle la pompe à jet comporte un éjecteur.

4. Une machine à laver la vaisselle selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, dans laquelle la pompe servant à faire circuler l'eau de lavage est une pompe à circulation.

5. Une machine à laver la vaisselle selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, dans laquelle la pompe servant à faire circuler l'eau de lavage est une pompe à décharge.

6. Une machine à laver la vaisselle selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, dans laquelle la pompe servant à faire circuler l'eau de lavage est une pompe additionnelle placée à l'extérieur de la machine.

7. Une machine à laver la vaisselle selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 6, dans laquelle l'entrée d'air dans la pompe à jet est située sur l'une des parois latérales de la cuve de la machine à laver la vaisselle.

8. Une machine à laver la vaisselle selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 6, dans laquelle l'entrée d'air dans la pompe à jet est placée sur l'une des surfaces de la cuve de la machine à laver la vaisselle.

9. Une machine à laver la vaisselle selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 8, dans laquelle l'eau mise en circulation par la pompe à jet représente la totalité de l'eau qui reste après le dernier cycle de rinçage.

10. Une machine à laver la vaisselle selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 8, dans laquelle l'eau mise en circulation par la pompe à jet représente l'eau qui reste dans la cuve de lavage après qu'ait été évacuée une partie de l'eau présente dans la machine à laver la vaisselle.

11. Une machine à laver la vaisselle selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 8, dans laquelle l'eau mise en circulation par la pompe à jet est de l'eau fraîche introduite venant de l'extérieur après qu'ait été complètement évacuée la dernière eau de rinçage.

12. Une machine à laver la vaisselle selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 8, dans laquelle l'eau mise en circulation par la pompe à jet est l'eau utilisée dans l'un des cycles de lavage, avant le dernier cycle de rinçage et qui a été conservée dans un volume séparé.

13. Une machine à laver la vaisselle, selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle la pompe à jet est placée horizontalement.

Drawing